Conservation-restoration of the Shroud of Turin

The Shroud of Turin in 1931

The conservation-restoration of the Shroud of Turin refers to the conservation-restoration and enduring preservation of the Shroud of Turin to avoid further damage and contamination. Since 1578 the Shroud has been kept in the Royal Chapel of Turin Cathedral (from 1694 to 1993 the Shroud rested in the Royal Chapel's Bertola altar), under the laminated bulletproof glass of the airtight case.[1] The temperature and humidity controlled-case is filled with argon (99.5%) and oxygen (0.5%) to prevent chemical changes, the Shroud itself is kept on an aluminum support sliding on runners and stored flat within the case.[1]

Public showings

When the Shroud is not on public display, the case is closed; during the public display the case can be moved, raised and opened. During the last centuries, the Shroud has been publicly exhibited a limited number of times,[2][3] often on very special occasions.

18th century
19th century
20th century
21st century

Restorations

On 4 December 1532 the Shroud sustained a fire, which burned out several holes in the fabric. In the spring of 1534 the Poor Clare Nuns patched the holes and placed a backing Holland cloth on the reverse.

On 11 April 1997, the Turin Cathedral sustained another fire, but the Shroud survived entirely unscathed. By that time the Shroud stayed within the three walls of plate glass each 11 feet (3.4 m) long and 6.5 feet (2.0 m) high. The fireman Mario Trematore decided to use a sledgehammer against the bulletproof glass to rescue the relic. Eventually he caused the 39mm thick material to shatter and another fireman arrived to help Trematore. When asked how he managed to break the glass, Trematore replied: "The bulletproof glass can stop bullets, but it cannot stop the strength of values represented by the symbol inside it. With only a hammer and our hands (still bleeding), we broke the glass".[7]

During the 2002 restoration, conducted by the Commission for the Conservation of the Shroud between 20 June and 22 July, thirty triangular patches, sewn by nuns in 1534, as well as the Holland cloth, were removed. The pre-1516/pre-1192 L-shaped burn holes, called "poker holes" and mentioned in the 12th century Hungarian Pray Codex, have remained. The 2002 restoration has been criticized for the damage it caused to the Shroud.[8]

Natural hazards

Because of dehydration, which might have been involved in the image formation, the Shroud was not recommended to be stored in vacuum.[9] As the minor changes of temperature can enhance the pressure, humidity and mechanical stress, the Shroud's case was made climate-controlled.

An electron microscope investigation of the dust and pollens removed from the Shroud during the 1978 examination has revealed that some species of mites are resident on the cloth.[9] Lichenothelia and arachnids in one of the tape samples have been also observed.[9]

As the Shroud was rolled and unrolled for display throughout the centuries, it sustained a repeated abrasion of the charred edges to the areas holed in the fire.[10] The low magnification images of the blood areas already show an extensive abrasion of this type.[9] To reduce the stress of gravity the Shroud was suggested being in horizontal display. To minimize possible cosmic ray exposure, it was also suggested that the plane of the cloth be aligned perpendicular to the ground.

American researcher Alan D. Adler, confirming the presence of bilirubin on the fabric, noted that it is not light-stable and may change the color under any light.[10] According to Adler, since the image fibers are at or near saturation while the surrounding cloth is not, the latter will gradually get darker until the image first becomes a silhouette and later finally vanishes.[10]

References

  1. 1 2 Barrie M. Schwortz. "Shroud Exhibitions". The Shroud of Turin (shroud.com). Shroud of Turin Education and Research Association, Inc. Retrieved 2010-03-04.
  2. ↑ Barrie M. Schwortz; Ian Wilson (1996). "Shroud History". The Shroud of Turin (shroud.com). Shroud of Turin Education and Research Association, Inc. Retrieved 2011-01-03.
  3. ↑ Wilson, Ian (1998). The blood and the shroud: new evidence that the world's most sacred relic is real. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-0-684-85529-5.
  4. ↑ http://www.romereports.com/pg158980-pope-francis-to-pray-before-the-holy-shroud-in-turin-en
  5. ↑ http://www.sindone.org/pls/diocesitorino/V3_S2EW_CONSULTAZIONE.mostra_pagina?id_pagina=33522
  6. ↑ http://www.turinforyoung.it/IT/don-bosco/bicentenario-di-don-bosco-don-angel-fernandez-artime.html
  7. ↑ Barrie M. Schwortz. "The 1997 Fire". The Shroud of Turin (shroud.com). Shroud of Turin Education and Research Association, Inc. Retrieved 2010-03-04.
  8. ↑ William Meacham, "The Rape of the Turin Shroud", 2005, ISBN 1-4116-5769-1
  9. 1 2 3 4 Alan D. Adler, Larry A. Schwalbe. "Conservation Of The Shroud of Turin". Shroud Spectrum International, No. 42, December 1993. Retrieved 2010-03-04.
  10. 1 2 3 "Comments On The Restoration". Shroud.com. Retrieved 2010-03-04.
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